Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-27

sions. Those who may have no children
to educate, should not grudge the light tax
they would have to pay to support a graz
ed school that would afford educational 1aclll-
ties TOT those who otherwise would be deprived
of the Ineans of education. All are Interested IN
the education of the rising generation. TAX
ing a pecuniary or mercenary view OF the mat
ter, it Isl an economical measure for a commu-
nifty to educate all the children in 1.-THE chill
dren of, the vicious as we'll as those OF the
deserving class-and thus prepare them to be
useful n hen and women.
He then gave a history of the origin of the
graded school in Chester, which was instituted
seven Or eight years ago. At that time there
were a/number of small schools scattered over
the town, each charging high tuition fees IN
addition to the taxes paid by the citizens for
free school purposes. 1t was determined to
organize all these into one school, under one
general management. but which should have
three grades or departments, commencing with
the kindergarten or primary, and advancing
to the higher, branches of an English education.
The plan proved successful from the very be-
ginning, and 1.-THE school, or schools, one for
each race, ara conducted from nine to ten
months each year. There.are now 2G7 pupils
in the white school, all under the supervision
one man with six teachers, which number,
under the system, is ample to teach thorough
ly all the classes.
The Court House township pays a general
school tax of about $4,000, but by the pro rata
distribution, it receives only about $500, supple
mented by $3.50 or $500 from poll tax, and Il
special tax of a mill and a halt, which has been
amply sufficient to pay the expenses of the
school, strictly confined to ali. the branches en-
l,oo,l -, &l>o F.oo eoIoo1 low. II x1~;1c IN
these branches receive their tuition free. The
higher branches are. taught and charged for
the fees arising therefrom being applied to de-
fray the expenses Of the school.
Mr.. Patterson spoke earnestly in favor of tho,
system, giving as reasons that it unites a COM
munity, breaks all conventional lines, and
should be adopted on the score of economy.
On the point of taxation he argued that edu-
cation is not an individual property, and hence
a small tax for this purpose is note burden to
those who may have no children to educate.
He then closed by briefly referring to the NOR
al influence upon a community of education.
Rev. L. A. Johnson, county school commits
s%ioner, next addressed the meeting, heartily
coinciding with the remarks of Mr.. Patterson,
and in his official as we'll as individual capacity
pledging himself to aid all he could in securing
the end desired.
Rev. T. R. English also addressed the meet
ing. He said he had had opportunities Of wit
Messing the management of graded schools, and
was satisfied that for our purposes here 1t
would be the most feasible system to adopt,
and he felt entire confidence in its success
should it be adopted.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. English's remarks
Maj. J. F. Hart offered the following resolu-
ton. which was adopted;
Resolyed, That the chairman Of this meeting
appoint a committee of seven to confer and
prepare business for consideration at a meeting
of the citizens to be subsequently held, of time
and place of which the chairman shall give
notice.
Under this resolution the chairman appoint
ed as the committee provided by it, James F.
Hart. L. M. Grist, Thos. W. Clawson, Gus. L.
Mcneil, Frank A. Gilbert, DR.. ]. R. Bratton
and Rev. f. G. Hickson.
A resolution was unanimously adopted re-
turning the thanks of the meeting to Hon.
Giles J. Patterson for his entertaining and in
structive address, and the meeting then ad-
| iourned sine die.